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HSEDOCUMENTS.COM

Fatigue Management

Recognizing, Controlling & Preventing Fatigue-Related Risk in the Workplace

Aligned with ISO 45001:2018 | ILO Guidance on Working Time | OSHA Fatigue Principles

Presented by HSEDocuments.com | Free Global HSE/QHSE Documents & Resources

Version 1.0 | Training Edition

www.hsedocuments.com | Free Global HSE Resources

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SESSION OVERVIEW

Agenda

WHAT WE WILL COVER

  • 1. Introduction & why fatigue management matters
  • 2. Session objectives
  • 3. Legal and regulatory requirements
  • 4. Fatigue-related hazards and risks
  • 5. Causes, controls and roles & responsibilities
  • 6. Documentation, emergency response & audits
  • 7. Do's, don'ts, and key takeaways

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UNDERSTANDING FATIGUE

Introduction & Background

WHY FATIGUE MANAGEMENT MATTERS

ZZZ

  • Fatigue is a state of physical and mental exhaustion that reduces alertness
  • It impairs judgment, reaction time, and decision-making on site
  • Recognized globally as a significant occupational safety hazard
  • Common in shift work, long hours, and high-demand operations
  • This session covers recognition, controls, and reporting of fatigue risk

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BY THE END OF THIS SESSION

Session Objectives

LEARNING OUTCOMES

AIM

  • Identify the common causes and warning signs of fatigue
  • Explain the legal and organizational duty to manage fatigue risk
  • Apply the hierarchy of controls to reduce fatigue-related incidents
  • Demonstrate correct reporting of fatigue concerns and near-misses
  • Comply with company fatigue management procedures and rest requirements

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COMPLIANCE FRAMEWORK

Legal & Regulatory Requirements

STANDARDS & OBLIGATIONS

ISO 45001:2018

Occupational health & safety management, worker fitness for duty

LAW

Local OSH Law

Working-hour limits, rest breaks and shift regulations by jurisdiction

ILO

ILO Guidance

International principles on working time and rest periods

Company Policy

Internal fatigue risk management procedure alignment statement

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RISK CATEGORIES

Fatigue-Related Hazards & Risks

CATEGORIZED HAZARDS

Physical

Slower reaction time, reduced coordination, increased injury risk

Psychosocial

Stress, irritability, reduced concentration and morale

Ergonomic

Poor posture and muscle strain from prolonged exertion

Environmental

Heat, noise and poor lighting amplify fatigue effects

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CORE TECHNICAL CONTENT

Causes & Contributing Factors

WHAT LEADS TO FATIGUE

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Sleep Debt

Insufficient or poor-quality sleep before shifts

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Shift & Hours

Long shifts, night work and inadequate recovery time

Workload & Stress

High workload, monotony or emotional strain

Environment

Heat, noise, vibration and poor lighting conditions

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CORE TECHNICAL CONTENT

Hierarchy of Controls

REDUCING FATIGUE RISK

Control Level

Example Measure

Elimination

Remove unnecessary night shifts or excessive overtime

Substitution

Rotate high-fatigue tasks with lower-demand duties

Engineering Controls

Improve lighting, ventilation and rest-area facilities

Administrative Controls

Enforce shift limits, mandatory rest breaks, fatigue monitoring

PPE / Personal Measures

Encourage hydration, short breaks and self-reporting of fatigue

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CORE TECHNICAL CONTENT

Roles & Responsibilities

WHO DOES WHAT

Role

Key Fatigue Management Responsibility

Management

Provide resources, approve fatigue policy, review schedules

HSE Team

Conduct fatigue risk assessments, train staff, monitor trends

Supervisor

Monitor worker alertness, enforce rest breaks, escalate concerns

Worker

Report fatigue symptoms, follow rest requirements, avoid overtime abuse

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REQUIRED RECORDS

Documentation Requirements

FORMS & REGISTERS

Fatigue Risk Assessment

Task and shift-specific fatigue risk evaluation form

Shift Schedule Register

Record of hours worked and rest periods taken

Incident / Near-Miss Log

Log of fatigue-related events and corrective actions

Toolbox Talk Record

Signed attendance record for fatigue awareness briefings

Free editable templates available at HSEDocuments.com

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IF FATIGUE IS SUSPECTED

Emergency Response & Reporting

IMMEDIATE ACTIONS & REPORTING FLOW

  • Stop the task immediately if severe fatigue is suspected
  • Do not operate vehicles, machinery or perform critical tasks
  • Move to a safe, supervised rest area

Worker

Supervisor

HSE Team

Management

Report all fatigue concerns without delay

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LESSONS LEARNED

Common Non-Conformances

GENERIC CASE STUDY

A night-shift worker continued operating equipment after reporting extreme tiredness. No fatigue reporting procedure was followed, and no relief worker was assigned, resulting in a near-miss incident.

TYPICAL NON-CONFORMANCES OBSERVED

  • No fatigue risk assessment conducted for extended shifts
  • Fatigue symptoms not reported or escalated by workers
  • Rest breaks scheduled but not enforced or monitored
  • No relief or backup staffing plan for fatigued personnel

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MONITORING COMPLIANCE

Inspection & Audit Checkpoints

KEY CHECKLIST ITEMS

Roster Review

Verify shift lengths and rest intervals meet policy

Risk Assessment Audit

Confirm fatigue risk assessments are current and complete

Toolbox Talk Verification

Confirm attendance records for fatigue awareness sessions

Incident Trend Review

Track fatigue-related near-misses and corrective actions

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QUICK REFERENCE

Do's & Don'ts

PRACTICAL GUIDANCE

DO

  • Get adequate rest before starting a shift
  • Report fatigue symptoms to your supervisor
  • Take scheduled rest breaks in full
  • Stay hydrated and eat balanced meals
  • Use buddy checks during night shifts

DON'T

  • Operate machinery while feeling extremely tired
  • Skip mandatory rest periods between shifts
  • Hide or ignore signs of fatigue
  • Rely on caffeine as a substitute for rest
  • Accept excessive overtime without proper recovery

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Fatigue is a serious, manageable workplace safety risk
  • Recognize the causes: sleep debt, long hours, workload, environment
  • Apply the hierarchy of controls to reduce fatigue exposure
  • Everyone shares responsibility — report symptoms without delay
  • Use HSEDocuments.com templates to stay compliant and audit-ready

Stay Safe. Stay Compliant.

Visit HSEDocuments.com for free, editable HSE/QHSE/QA-QC forms, templates & resources — worldwide.

Thank You | www.hsedocuments.com | info@hsedocuments.com

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